Voucher scam on social media
POLICE Scotland and the Scottish Government arewarning shoppers to be on high alert following a spate of fraudulent supermarket vouchers appearing on Facebook.
Following Aldi’s own warning that vouchers offering 40 per cent off at the supermarket are false, the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) has suggested that shoppers who register are exposing themselves to the risk of identity theft by handing over sensitive personal information to criminals.
With the rise in personal information being cultivated by criminal gangs and sold via the Dark Web [an intricate system of private untraceable web servers often used by hacker groups], police are warning that it is important for people to be vigilant at all times when using devices that may store any personal information.
Director of the SBRC, Mandy Haeburn-Little, said: ‘The public needs to be on guard against vouchers appearing on their social media newsfeeds claiming to offer incredible savings.
‘Criminals are constantly devising more complex and devious methods to unlawfully take your information – and your savings – which is why fraudulent offers can often appear official. However, if an offer looks too good to be true, it more than likely is.
‘Be cautious when online, at a time when savings are so often stretched. It is especially important that we don’t fall victim and instead take what measures we can to limit risk.’